She for He” was born out of the growing realization that conversations around gender equity in Kenya have often sidelined the boychild, leading to visible gaps in education, health, and social wellbeing. While girls have rightly benefited from targeted empowerment programs, boys increasingly face school dropouts, unemployment, mental health struggles, and social disorientation. I created this innovation to restore balance, to promote gender equity by empowering boys alongside girls. As an educator and community advocate, I saw firsthand how boys lacked mentorship and safe spaces to discuss identity, purpose, and responsibility. “She for He” reframes gender justice as a shared mission, not a competition, inspiring women and men to work together to rebuild dignity, empathy, and opportunity for all genders.
In practice, “She for He” combines mentorship, storytelling, and community-based education to reimagine gender roles and promote positive masculinity. The program brings together teachers, parents, youth mentors, and local leaders to facilitate workshops and dialogues in schools and community centers. Through peer mentorship clubs, artistic expression, and skill-building sessions, boys learn emotional intelligence, responsible leadership, and self-awareness. Meanwhile, girls and women participate as allies—mentors, sisters, and advocates—creating a model of mutual support rather than rivalry. The initiative also uses digital storytelling and social media campaigns to challenge stereotypes and amplify local role models who embody inclusive, healthy masculinity.
“She for He” began as a local school-based mentorship program and has organically grown through partnerships with educators, youth organizations, and church groups. Word-of-mouth and social media storytelling have helped it gain traction among teachers and community leaders seeking holistic gender approaches. The model’s appeal lies in its simplicity and adaptability — schools and youth groups can easily integrate it into existing guidance, life skills, or SRHR programs. We have also been invited to present the initiative at education and youth empowerment forums, including networks under ELRA and the Trevor Noah Regional Leadership Center. The goal is to expand through partnerships with county governments, education officers, and media allies to mainstream boychild empowerment as a key pillar of societal change.
Initially, “She for He” focused mainly on school mentorship. Over time, we have integrated elements of arts and mental health after realizing that expression and healing are critical for lasting transformation. We also added a “She Champions for He” component—engaging women leaders and teachers as advocates for balanced gender discourse. Most recently, we introduced a digital storytelling hub to document and share narratives of transformed boys and supportive communities, turning local stories into powerful advocacy tools.
To try “She for He,” start by bringing together a small team of educators, youth mentors, or community leaders who believe in inclusive gender transformation. Use the She for He Dialogue Guide (available upon request) to hold open discussions on masculinity, identity, and shared responsibility. Identify local male mentors and women allies to co-facilitate sessions. Encourage storytelling, drama, and reflection as core methods. The model thrives on flexibility — whether through after-school clubs, church youth programs, or community events. For support, collaboration, or training materials, you can reach out to the initiative team through our social media pages or partner organizations such as ELRA.
